Abstract
(Introduction) We previously reported that hydraulic permeability leads to satisfactory patency of a microporous small diameter vascular graft with a fibrous polyurethane (PU) graft wall. In the present study, influence of PU fiber diameters on graft patency was evaluated. (Materials & methods) Microporous PU vascular grafts (internal diameter: 1.5mm) were fabricated by a spray-phase inversion technique. PU fiber diameters at an internal graft surface were measured on processing images of scanning electron microscopy. Those grafts (length: 10–16 mm) were implanted in the rat abdominal aorta (n=6), and were retrieved 1 month after implantation. (Result) Percentages of the internal surface with PU fiber diameters less than 3 μm in those grafts were 0, 0, 47, 52, 53 and 61% repectively. The 2 grafts with 0% of the internal surface with PU fiber diameters less than 3 μm occluded probably due to acute or early thrombosis. The other 4 grafts were patent and showed a glistening, transparent neointima without red thrombi. (Conclusions) In conclusion, it seems that grafts composed of more amount of thinner PU fibers develop less thrombosis and, thus have better patency than the grafts composed of less amount of thinner PU fibers. Currently, we are performing further studies of relationships between three-dimensional structure and cellular compatibility.
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